2025-10-16 03:02:09TWENTY-ONE YEARS AGO
She pushed the glass swing door of the grocery store open. Sarah stepped out into the bright sunlight, her arms laden with bags of fresh produce and pantry staples. She carefully navigated the sidewalk, her eyes fixed on the path ahead as she tried to avoid any obstacles. As she turned the corner, she didn't notice the elderly woman standing in front of her, lost in thought. Sarah's bags bumped into the woman, causing her to stumble slightly. The woman's eyes widened as she grasped Sarah's arm to steady herself. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes locking onto the woman's concerned face. "Are you okay?" The woman smiled and nodded, her eyes twinkling with kindness. "I'm fine, dear. Just a bit lost in thought. You're expecting a baby, aren't you?" Sarah's hands instinctively went to her belly, a smile spreading across her face. "Yes, I'm due in a few months. My first baby." The woman's face lit up with a warm smile. "Congratulations! Enjoy every moment, dear. It goes by so fast." As they stood there, Sarah felt a sense of connection with this stranger. "Thank you," she said, smiling. "I will." With a gentle pat on the arm, the woman nodded and continued on her way, leaving Sarah to proceed. As she took a step she felt something under her feet, she looked down and saw a paint brush. She turned to call the old woman. "Excuse me", she shouted loud enough to draw the attention of the old woman and people on the sidewalk. She walked to the old, "you left this..... it dropped on the ground", she said. "Thank you", the old woman said smiling, took the brush and it sparkled. "Here you should have this", the woman gave Sarah a little box, Sarah opens it. Inside it was a small sketch painting folded in the box, Sarah closed the box and gave it to the old woman, "I'm sorry, I can't accept this". "No my child you can, it's an appreciation gift for returning my treasured paint brush", she said smiling. "thanks so much", Sarah said "You're welcome dear, you should get going, the sunlight isn't good for your baby", "Sure", Sarah said smiling while the old woman nods. And Sarah left. ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ The city lights twinkled like stars as the night descended over the concrete streets. Kai, a 16-year-old high school student, was driven home from a friend's house when he saw her. She was an old woman, dressed in tattered clothes, standing on the corner with a cardboard sign that read "Hungry and Homeless, Please Help." Kai had seen people like her before, but something about this woman's eyes struck a chord. He couldn't just drive by. He asked his chauffeur to pull over and got out of the car, walking back to the woman. "Ma'am, can I help you with something?" he asked, feeling a bit awkward. The streetlights cast long shadows on the sidewalk, and the sound of passing cars filled the air. The woman looked up at him, her eyes welling up with tears. "Just some food or money would be nice, young man," she said, her voice shaking. Kai rummaged through his pockets and found some cash, which he handed to her. "Here, take this. It's not much, but maybe it can help." The woman's face lit up with gratitude, and she reached into her bag, pulling out a small paintbrush. "I don't have much to give you in return, but this was my daughters favorite brush. She was a painter. I want you to have it." Kai took the brush, feeling a sense of wonder. "Thank you, ma'am. This means a lot to me." "You're a good kid. Don't forget to paint your dreams." Kai smiled and watched as she disappeared into the shelter. As he drove away, Kai glanced at the paintbrush in his hand.The paintbrush has a slender handle made of wood or possibly another material, and its bristles are soft and fine, perfect for delicate strokes. At the ferrule, where the bristles meet the handle, a small blue stone is set into the metal edge, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the brush's design. The blue stone sparkles in the light, catching the eye and drawing attention to the craftsmanship of the brush. Feeling a sense of pride and purpose. He looked at the brush more closely, noticing the intricate details and the way the bristles felt between his fingers. **** **** The dawning light was replaced with dark night. It was night, the wind was cool. Thunder and lightning striking in the sky. The Walterson family said their prayers to have dinner. The clinking of cutlery echoes loud with the wind. "I think it's going to rain", Martin said, Sarah's husband. "Yeah I think so too. I'll go get us water to drink". Sarah strode past her husband as he smacks her butt, "seriously?", both giggled. When she got to the kitchen, the wild wind hits her face unawares, she turns her face to grip the counter not to stumble due to pregnancy. Sarah locked the window, went to get water from the refrigerator with cups and dropped it on the counter. She stretches her hands up to the cabinet to grab the wine she bought from her grocery shopping to celebrate her husband's promotion. Her pregnancy water broke out unknowingly. When she realized the wine fell from her hands, suddenly she was in labor. Martin rushed into the kitchen when he heard the broken sound of bottle. He found Sarah helplessly leaning towards the counter. Martin supported her into the car.
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CHAPTER 67
Chapter 67 Three days had passed since Kai's visit to the nursing home. Three days since Syrian had painted the portrait. Three days since she had looked straight through him and whispered words that refused to leave his mind. "You owe him." Kai jerked awake with a violent headache.A sharp groan escaped his lips as he sat upright, pressing both palms against his temples. The room spun for several seconds before finally settling. His dry throat burned with every breath. As he swung his legs off the bed, his foot accidentally struck an empty bottle of The Macallan 18-Year-Old Double Cask Scotch Whisky. The bottle rolled across the hardwood floor, knocking against another empty bottle before crashing into the leg of a table with a loud clink that echoed through the silent house. Kai shut his eyes. "...Damn." His apartment smelled of expensive alcohol.Three empty bottles rested beside the couch while another still sat on the coffee table with barely a finger of whisky left inside.
CHAPTER 66
Birds chirped around the blooming flowers and plants. Men and women in service uniforms were scattered around the gardens, some with watering cans, while others carefully trimmed the leaves and shaped the hedges into beautiful structures. Armed guards were stationed around every corner of the manor, keeping watch for anything suspicious that might require intervention. Inside the old-money mansion, the Walterson men were gathered together for breakfast. Dressed in expensive black suits, cufflinks, and watches worth far more than an ordinary person's annual salary, they sat around the dining table in peaceful silence. That peace was interrupted by the arrival of a man. "Good morning, Mercer. What must have cost you to bless me with your presence this early?" Grandfather spoke without lifting his gaze from the magazine in his hands. Everyone turned their attention toward the well-dressed man standing at the entrance. He wore an expensive black suit, but the distress on his face was
CHAPTER 65
Kai stepped into the nursing home and was immediately greeted by the bright smile of one of the nurses at the reception desk. After signing in as one of Syrian's visitors, he made his way toward her room with familiarity born from several visits. However, when he reached the room and pushed the door open, he stopped. The room was empty. Her belongings were still neatly arranged around the room, but Syrian herself was nowhere in sight. A strange uneasiness settled in his chest. Without thinking too much about it, he quickly turned and headed back into the corridor to look for her. His hurried pace caused him to collide with someone. "Hey, slow down." The familiar gentle voice instantly eased the anxiety that had built inside him. Ashley laughed softly as she steadied herself. "You almost ran me over." Kai exhaled in relief. "Sorry. Syrian isn't here anymore." Ashley blinked before chuckling."Yeah, I know. Her room was changed earlier today." For some reason, simply looking at
CHAPTER 64
The metallic door groaned as it opened. Mario stepped into the visitation room, escorted by an officer. The fluorescent lights above cast a dull glow over the gray walls, making the entire place feel lifeless and suffocating. A thick pane of reinforced glass separated some visitors from inmates in other booths, but Mario had arranged for a private attorney room instead. The officer unlocked the inner door and gestured him inside. A few moments later, Lewis was brought in. The moment the officer left and the door shut behind him, Lewis dropped into the chair opposite Mario and leaned back with a scoff. "Look who finally decided to show up." Mario remained composed as he took his seat. "I didn't abandon you, Lewis." Lewis laughed bitterly and shook his head. "Oh, but you did. You forgot about me the moment those prison gates closed behind me. Then again, you're not the one being interrogated every day." "That's enough," Mario said sharply. "No, it isn't." Lewis leaned for
CHAPTER 63
Since the last time I left the nursing home, the words on that painting had refused to leave my mind. Even now, standing in the middle of the exhibition hall, my eyes remained fixed on the portrait hanging before me. Life's Unexpected Moments. A simple title. A simple painting. Yet there was nothing simple about the way it made me feel. Warmth. Joy. Pain. Sorrow. All woven together inside a single canvas. Every brushstroke felt like a fragment of a story. A story that had been haunting me ever since I realized the image from that painting existed in reality. What disturbed me most wasn't the painting itself. It was the fact that I had painted it unconsciously—somewhere between sleep and awareness, somewhere deep inside my mind. A place I couldn't explain. A place that kept revealing things I wasn't supposed to know. The portrait hanging before me was only one of many. The rest remained hidden inside my private studio, locked away from the world. That was the real reason I n
CHAPTER 62
The metallic clang of the prison gate echoed through the visitation area as Lewis was escorted into the room. The orange prison uniform hung loosely on his frame, a sharp contrast to the expensive tailored suits he had once worn with pride. Dark shadows rested beneath his eyes, and for the first time in years, there was no arrogance in his posture. Only exhaustion.A man in a charcoal suit sat waiting on the opposite side of the table. The moment Lewis entered, the attorney rose to his feet. "Mr. Carter." Lewis took his seat without acknowledging him. The lawyer cleared his throat. "My name is Richard Hayes. Your father sent me." That earned a brief glance. "He wants me to represent you." Lewis looked away again. "The evidence against you isn't impossible to challenge," Richard continued. "Your father has assembled a legal team. We can begin working on your release immediately." A hollow laugh escaped Lewis. "Release?" he muttered. "You people still think prison is my bigges
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